Machines for removing and replacing lids on containers



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATroRNEg;

Dec. l, 1964 J. J. woLoszYN MACHINES, FOR REMOVING AND REPLACING LIDS ON CONTAINERS Filed March 28, 1962 Dec. l, 1964 J. J. woLoszYN 3,159,064

MACHINES, FOR REMovING AND REPLACING LIDs oN coNTAINERs Filed March 2a, 1962 2 sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR da /m n J, ifa/mjy ATTORNEYS United States Patent Office 3,I59,064 MACI-MES FR REMGWNG AND REPLACHNG LEDS N CNTAENERS Julian I. Woleszyn, 195 N. Broad St., .lohnson City, NY. Filed Mar. 28, 1962, Ser. No. 183,177 17 Claims. (Cl. Sir-3.32)

This invention is a novel improvement in machines for removing and replacing lids on containers such as paint pails or cans or the like, and the principal object of the invention is to provide a machine the use of which will be particularly advantageous in paint and hardware stores where paint can lids must be removed and replaced to satisfy the desires of a customer who wishes a shade of paint differs from the standard ready-mixed colors.

A further object of the invention is to provide a Inachine of the above type which when in use will not spill or splash the paint.

Other minor objects of the invention will be hereinafter set forth.

I will explain the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate several practical embodiments thereof to enable others familiar with the art to adopt and use the same, and will summarize in the claims the novel features of construction, and novel combination of parts, for which protection is desired.

In said drawings:

v FIG. 1 is a side elevation of my novel machine show- Y ing in dot-and-dash lines a paint can positioned on the base under the operating head.

FlG. 2 is atop plan View thereof.

FIG. 3 is a front elevational View thereof.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged elevation, partly in section, showing in full lines the lid-enga ging lingers of the head initially positioned under the can lid, and showing in dotted lines the position assumed by the lingers after removing the lid.

FIG. 5 is an expanded view of a finger carrying member, detached. f

FIG. 6 is an elevational view showing a modification `of, the head positioning means shown in FIG. 1.

As shown, my novel machine preferably comprises a base l of any desired material which can be attached to any desired support by screws passing through countersunk base holds therein, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, which base l is preferably of substantially rectangular shape and of desired thickness. longitudinal axis thereof, adjacent one end, is an upright Z which is preferablyeinen-circular cross-section and may be square or rectangular as shown, said upright being covered by a cap 3 or the` like, if desired.

lThe lower end of uprightV 2 may be secured to base 1 in any desired manner. As shown, the lower ends fit within a corerspondingly shaped ilanged collar 4, the flange doof which seats upon the'top of the base; and a screw bolt 5 extends through a vertical bore in the base and is threaded into the lower end of upright 2, the head of the screw bolt 5 being preferably housed in a recess la 4(IllG. 1) as shown. In this manner the upright 2 is rigidly secured tothe base.

Vertically slidably mounted on upright Z is a sleeve 6 of cross-section conforming with that of upright 2, sleeve 6 carrying a lateral arm extension 6a overlying the 1ongitudinal axis of base `I and carrying at its outer end a Vertical sleeveor bearingdb in which the operating head hereinafter described is vertically movably mounted.

The sleeve 6 is yieldably urged in an upward direc- Disposed along thetion on upright 2 by means of a spring actuated toggle,

shown more particularly in FIG. 3, consisting of upper toggle links '7 having their upper ends respectivelypivotally connected by screws 14 to an angle clip 13 (FIG.

1) mounted on the underside of the arm 6a of sleeve 6, said links 7 having their lower ends pivotally connected to the upper ends of lower toggle links 8, the lower ends of toggle links 8 being pivotally connected to the flanged collar 4, as at 8a (FIGS. l and 3). A toggle spring 9 is connected to and is disposed between the connecting ends of the respective links 7 and d, as shown in FIG. 3, said spring normally tending to raise the sleeve 6 on upright 2.

Means are provided for moving the sleeve 6 into adjusted position on upright 2, said means, as shown in FIG. l, consisting of a handle 6c on the upper end of sleeve 6 extending laterally thereof whereby the sleeve may be raised or lowered when the locking device is released. The locking device shown in FIG. 1 consists p of a plate lll having an opening therein of slightly greater width than the upright Z, said plate having one end ilexibly or hingedly secured to the inner end of handle 6c, and thus being normally disposed at an angle to the horizontal with respect to upright 2 when arcuate lifter ll is disengaged, i.e., pulled to the left (FIG. 1) so aS to be removed fromfits normal'position disposed under the locking plate lll and hinged into inoperative position free from contact with the locking plate I1 as shown in dotted lines in FIG.V l. Lifter '1l is pivoted as at 11a to the arm da of sleeve 6, as shown, whereby when the locking plate llt) is normally disposed at an angle to the horizontal the opposite edges of the opening in the plate will frictionally grip or bind against the adjacent faces of the upright 2 and prevent vertical movement of sleeve e. However, when the lifter Il is hinged by the operator towardV the upright 2 (FIG. l) the lifter ll will slide under the plate It and the plate 16 will assume a more horizontal position, thereby releasing its frictional engagement with the upright 2 and permitting the sleeve to be raised or lowered. Upon disengaging lifter l1, however, the plate l@ will again assume its angular locking relation to the upright 2. Handle 6c is used t0 raise or lower the sleeve while the locking plate 10 is disengaged and may be used to set the sleeve 6 at any desired elevation on upright 2.

Instead of utilizing the locking plate l@ and lifter l1 and the handle 6c, however, the modication shown in FIG. 6 may be used, the same consisting of an angle lever 6d carrying adjacent its heel a cam de attached to arms 6] and 6d and normally engaging the adjacent face of upright Z, the cam 6e being journaled on a stud 12 carried by sleeve 6. The arm 61 of lever 6d is normally urged away from the sleeve 6 by means of a spring 6g interposed between the lower end of arm *5f and the sleeve 6. By this .construction the engagement of the Cani 6e with the face of upright 2 will be relieved upon downward pressure on the arrn ed, which will tilt the lever arms 6d, df, moving the cam de away from engagement with the upright 2, the cam reengaging the upright 2 through the instrumentality of spring 6g as soon asV downward pressure on lever 6d is relieved.

The operating head ot the machine as previously stated is supported in the bearing sleeve portion eb of arm 6a and consists of a non-rotary plate l5' preferably of circular shape having at its Icenter ,an upstanding piston 16 which is slidably mounted in the bearing sleeve 6b, the same extending above the top of the sleeve 6b, as shown in FIG. l, and said piston le having at its upper end a reduced extension 16a which is threaded and carries at its upper end a nut i7. Around the upper portion of piston le and its `err-tension 16a is a coiled spring 18 interposed between a washer at the nut 17 and the upper end of the bearingsleeve 6b, the tension of the spring TLS being adjusted by adjustment of the nut 17. Spring I3 acts against any force on arm 2l. Spring 18 is only in operation when the head is locked in position on post 2.

Patented Dec. l, 1964 3 Therefore, spring I8 'cannot act against the action of toggle spring 9. The head is supported by the action of spring 9 of the toggle links 'i and 8 and the action of locking plate l to prevent upward movement.

The bearing sleeve 6b is provided with opposed vertical slots 6h and through the slots 6h extend studs lob. Rotatably mounted on the studs 16k are rollers I9 maintained in positionby nuts 20.

' Pivoted upon the arm 6a as at 21a is a bifurcated lever 2l straddling the upper portion 1of the bearing sleeve 6b and lhaving a hand knob 22 at its outer end, the bifurcations of the lever 2l directly `engaging the tops of the rollers 19 as shown in FIG.y 3, whereby downward pressure on the lever 2l will lower the piston I6 and consequently the plate I within the limitations of the slots 6h. If desired, the outer portion of the handle 2l may be telescopic Vso that the ellective length of the handle 2l may in position to engage the `top of the can and to underlie the edge of the can lid C.

On the non-rotatable plate I5 is a head control stop 33 in the form of an arcuate plate formed of metal disposed substantially radially of the paint can, said arcuate plate having at its upper end a base 33a as shown in FIGS. l and 24, which is pivoted as :at 33b to the non-rotatable plate on the upper side thereof, whereby the plate 33 may be swung outwardly or inwardly with respect to the can C, the lower edge ofthe arcuate plate 33 being adapted to engage the top of the paint can C as shown in FEG. l, and said plate 33 being of somewhat greater height than the distance of the plate l5 from the nger tips 29a when v a can C is lpositioned under the head as shown in FIG. l

with the pl-ate 33 seated upon the top of can C. The purpose of the arcuate plate 33' is to initially set the head at such distance that the lift-lid lingers 29a are positioned above the top of the can C, since the lingers 29a must be in the correct position so that the positioning arms 23 can properly function to bring the tips 29a of the lingers between the lid C and the top of the can C when the head is lowered.

23 are supported by the plate I5, lthe upper ends of the linger frames 23 entering the radial slots 15a in plate 15, and projecting above the :plate l5.

On the top of each linger frame 23 is a threaded stud 23C for the reception of -a roller 24, a washer 2.6, and locknut 27. The threaded studs 23C pass upwardly throughl a radial series of arcuate slots 28a in a rotatable plate 2S, lwhich plate is disposed somewhat above lbut parallel ywith the non-rotatable plate 15, as shown in FlGS. 1 and 3, the rollers 24 engaging the slots 28a so Ithat as the rotatable plate 28 is rotated by means of handle 28h, the

, linger frames 2.3 will be simultaneously shifted in the radial slots 15g.: of plate 15 toward or from the axis of the head, the arcuate slots 28a being all disposedin the same direction with respect to the slots I5a of plate 15.

4By this construction the rotatable plate 23 is supported entirely upon the 'tops of the linger frames 23 coaxially of the non-rotatable plate 15, the plate 28 rising and fallv'the bifurcations of the frame 23, as shown in FIGS. 4

yand 5, the studs 3i? engaging the upper portions of the linger 29. The lower ends of the lingers 29 terminate in tips 29a `which are thinnedto a marked degree and are turned inwardly at their lower ends so that as the linger frames 23 are lowered with respect to the side wall of a paint can C, indicated more particularly in FIGS. l and 4,

the tips 29d will enter between the top of the side of the can and will engage underrtheoutturned portion -of the lid C so that upon further depression of the linger frarnes 23 with respect to the can C, the linger tips will assume a position shown in dottedlines in FIG. 4, thereby prying the lid C from the top of the can C.

Y In order to adjust the spacing of the linger tips 29a from the sides of the frames 23, set screws 31 are provided, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the same passing through threaded lbores 23e in the lingers 23 with the outer ends engaging the rear faces of the lingers 29, lock nuts 31a being provided to lock the set screws 3l in adjusted lidengaging position, in which position the linger tips 29 would project slightly beyond the adjacent face of the frames 23. Normally the ngers 29 would hang downwardly in the position shown in full lines in FIG. 4, Le.,

In operation, to remove the lid C of a can C, the head of the machine would be lifted to substantially the top of the upright 2 after pushing the lifter II clockwise or toward the upright 2 to disengage the locking plate 1li, thereby releasing the locking plate I0 from the upright and allowing the head, or the sleeve 6 carrying the head, to be adjusted by handle 6c. Then the can C would be placed on base 1 in substantially the proper position, preferably utilizing concentric circles such as 1x, ly, and Iz (FIG. 2) which may be marked on fthe top of base 1 concentric with the piston I6 and the plates 15 and 28, during which time the handle 2gb of the rotatable plate 28 would have been pushed away from the. operator or toward the upright 2. The arcuate plate 33 with the head so raised would then be swung into proper operating position so that the plate 33 may gaugeV the distance of the head from the top of can C. Then the arm 6c of sleeve 6 would be pushed down until the arcuate plate 33 touches the top of the can; then the lifter 11 would be released by counterclockwise rotation so that the locking plate 10 will securely lock the head inthe adjusted position on upright 2.y The operator would then pull the handle 28b towards him, or away from upright 2, to bring the linger units 23 closer together .and to allow the linger units 23 to engage the sides of the can C and to automatically center the can C with respect to the head; then the operator would swing the arcuate plate 33 so that the vsame is out of loperating position with respect to plate 15 so that it does not interfere with the opening of the can. Then the arm 6c would be pushed down slightly so that the lift lingers 29a are lirmly in position between the lid C and the top of the can; then the handle 21 would be pulled down to open the can, the lingers 29 during the opening movement tending-to assume the position shown in dotted lines in FIG. 4. The head would then be again raised by releasing the locking plate Ill and lifting the head, whereupon thelid C would be loose enough to be removed by hand.

During the opening movement the rotary plate 28 may rotate slightly when the lid is forced open due to the force which tends to hold the lingers 29-against the lid. When handle 21 is pulled downwardly, and as the lingers 29 pry the lid open, the linger assembly gives by moving away from the axis of the can C forming a slightly larger circle, therefore the rotary plate 28 willrrotate slightly in a counterclockwise direction during this latter stage of the lid removing operation. Final position of the lingers 29 may be nearly horizontal afterthe lid has been pried upwardly. Y

To replace the lid the locking plate Il) would be released in the manner above explained; handle 2812 should be pushed away from the operator or toward upright 2, and sleeve 6 should be moved upwardly with the open C properly initially positioned on the base l, and with the removed lid C normally placed to substantially cover the top of the can; the sleeve 6 would then be positioned until the non-rotatable plate l5 touches the lid of the chan. Then by pulling downwardly on lever 21 the lid will be resealed, after which the head may be again raised, leaving the lid C securely positioned on the can.

l do not limit my invention to the exact forms shown in the drawings, for obviously changes may be made therein within the scope of the claims.

l claim:

l. A machine for removing and replacing lids on containers or the like, comprising a base upon which a container may be placed; an upright thereon; a vertically movable operating head adjustably mounted on said upright and including a plate having a series of radial slots therein; means for raising and lowering said head; movable finger frames supported by the plate and having reduced heads passing through the slots; means for simultaneously adjusting the finger frames radially of the plate to engage the sides of a container centered upon the base', and lift fingers pivoted with respect to the inner side faces of the finger frames and having thinned inwardly curved outer tips adapted when the operating head is lowered onto a container placed on the base to initially enter between the side of the container lid and the top of the container, and upon further lowering of the head the lift lingers will paint can pivot inwardly, thereby prying the lid off the container.

2. In a machine as set forth in claim l, a substantially radially disposed head control stop pivoted on said plate and being in one position to seat upon the top of a container positioned on the base under the operating head to initially set the head prior to locking of the sleeve above the container at such distance that the lift fingers are positioned above the lid of the container; the control stop being then shiftable into inoperative position prior to further lowering of the head to permit the lift fingers to function.

3. ln a machine as set forth in claim l, each linger frame being of inverted U-shape and having ladjacent its upper end spaced flanges loosely engaging the top and bottom lfaces of the plate, the upper portion of the frame entering its respective radial slot in said plate.

4. In a machine as set forth in claimV l, each finger frame being of inverted U-shape, and said lift fingers being normally housed between the legs of the finger frames, and being pivoted at their upper ends on studs passing through said legs so as to hang freely downwardly; the lower ends of said lingers being thinned and inwardly turned to project slightly beyond the adjacent inner faces of the frames; and means for adjusting the normal protrusion of the lower ends of the fingers with respect to the frames.

5. A machine for removing and replacing lids on containers or the like, comprising a base upon which a container may be placed; an upright thereon; a vertically movable operating head adjustably mounted on said upright; means for raising and lowering said head; said head including a non-rotatable plate having a series of radial slots therein; a rotatable plate on the head disposed above and parallel with the first plate and having a series of arcuate slots therein all curving in the same direction and intersecting the radial slots of the first plate; finger frames supported by the first plate and having reduced heads passing through the intersecting slots in the first and second plates respectively and as the rotatable plate is rotated the finger frames will be simultaneously adjusted radially of the plates to engage the sides of a container centered upon the base; and lift fingers pivoted on the inner side faces of the finger frames and having thinned inwardly curved outer tips adapted when the operating head is lowered onto a container placed on the base to initially enter between the side of the container lid and the top of the container, and upon further lowering of the head the lift fingers will pivot inwardly, thereby prying the lid off the container.

6. In almachine as set forth in claim 5, a substantially radially disposed head control stop pivoted on said nonrotatable plate and being in one position to seat upon the top of a container positioned on the base under the operating head to initially set the head prior to locking of the sleeve above the container at such distance that the lift fingers are positioned above the lid of the container; the control stop being then shiftable into inoperative position prior to further lowering of the head to permit the lift fingers to function.

7. In :a machine as set forth in claim 5, said finger frames being of inverted U-shape and having adjacent their upper ends spaced fianges loosely engaging the top and bottom faces of the first plate the upper portions of the frames entering the said radial slots in said first plate; threaded studs at the upper ends of the frames; rollers on said studs engaging the arcuate slots in the rotatable plate; and nuts on the studs above said rollers loosely engaging the upper face of the rotatable plate and supporting the latter entirely by the said finger frames.

8. in a machine as set forth in claim 5, said finger frames being of inverted U-shape, and said lift fingers being normally housed between the legs of the finger frames, and being pivoted at their upper ends on studs passing through said legs and hanging freely downwardly to permit inward movement; the lower ends of said fingers being thinned and inwardly turned to project slightly beyond the adjacent inner faces of the frames; and means for adjusting the normal protrusion of the lower ends of the fingers with respect to the frames.

9. A machine for removing and replacing lids oncontainers or the like, comprising a base; an upright thereon; a sleeve slidable on said upright; a lateral extension on said sleeve overlying the base and carrying a vertical bearing; an operating head slidably mounted in said bearing; means for yieldably urging the sleeve upwardly; means for locking the sleeve on the upright in adjusted position; said operating head including a non-rotatable plate having an axially disposed piston slidably engaging the vertical bearing, and having opposed studs extending through vertical slots in the wall of the vertical bearing; means for adjustably yieldably urging the piston of the head upwardly of the vertical bearing Within the limits of the slots; a hand lever pivoted on the lateral extension and engaging said studs and when depressed moving the piston downwardly in said vertical sleeve within the limits of the slots; said plate having a series of radial slots therein disposed concentrically 4of the piston; a rotatable plate disposed above and parallel with the first plate journaled on the piston and having a series of arcuate slots therein all curving in the same direction and intersecting the radial slots of the first plate; finger frames supported by the first plate and having reduced heads passing through the intersecting slots in the first and second plates respectively and simultaneously adjusting the finger frames radially of the plates as the rotatable plate is rotated; and lift fingers pivoted on the inner side faces of the finger frames having thinned inwardly curved outer tips adapted when the operating head is lowered onto a container placed on the base to initially enter between the side of the lid and the top of the container, and upon further lowering of the hand lever the lift fingers will have an inward movement prying the lid off the container.

10. In a machine as set forth in claim 9, a substantially radialy disposed head control stop pivoted on said non rotatable plate and being in one position to seat upon the top of a container positioned on the base under the operating head to initially set the head prior to locking ol the sleeve above the container at such distance that the lift fingers are positioned above the lid of the container the control stop being then shiftable into inoperative position prior to Operation of the hand lever to permit the lif lingers to function.

I .711.- In a machine as set forthin claim 9, saidmeans -forfyieldably"urging the sleeve upwardly comprising a pair of toggle links pivoted at their upper ends to the sleeve; a second pair yo toggle links pivoted to the ilree ends of the first linksand connected at their lower ends to the base respectively; t and .a tensile spring connecting the cornmon pivots of the toggle links respectively. j 12. In a machine as set forth in claim 9, said upright being of` non-circular cross-section and said means for' locking the sleeve on the upright comprising an arm on said sleeve; a locking plate iiexibly mounted on the arm `in a normallyinclined position, said plate having a hole being of non-circular cross-section, and said means for locking the sleeve on the upright comprising an angle lever having :an integr-a1 cam at its heel pivoltally mounted on -V the sleeve, the horizontal arm of the lever forming a Vhandle and the vertical arm being disposed parallel with the sleeve; and spring interposed between the vertical arm and sleeve to normally engage the cam with the upright,

Vthe engagement being released when the horizontal arm is depressed.

14. In a machine as set forth in claim 9, said means -for adjulstably urging the piston upwardly of the vertical bearing comprisinga threaded reduction on the upper end of the piston passingthrough and above the bearing; a nut on the threaded reduction; and a spring interposed between the nut and the upper end of the bearing.

8 l Y 15. In a machine as set forth in claim 9, `said hand lever being bifurcated adjacent its inner end, and engaging rollers journaled on the studs. 9

16. In a machine as set forth in claim 9, said iinger y frames being of inverted U-shaped and havingy adjacent their'upper ends spaced lianges loosely engaging the top and bottom faces of the irst plate the upper portions of the frames entering the said radial slots in said fir'stplate; threaded studs at the upper Vends of the frames; Arollers on said studs engaging the arcuate slots in the rotatable plate; and nuts on the studs above said rollers loosely engaging the upper face of the rotatable plate and supporting the latter entirely by the said finger frames.

17. In a machine as set forth in claim 9, said finger frames being of inverted U-shape, and said lift lingers being normally housed between the legs of the linger frames, and being pivoted at their upper ends on studs passing through said legs and hanging freely downwardly to permit inward movement; the lower ends of said ingers being thinned and inwardly turned to project slightly beyond the adjacent inner faces of the frames; and means oradjus'ting the normal protrusion of the lower ends of the fingers with respect to the frames.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,022,591 4/12 Perry 81-332 X 1,355,912 10/20 Robbins 53-364 X 1,456,525 5/ 23 West.

2,566,598 9/51 Castner 81-3.32 2,878,632 3/ 59 Flores-man 53-364 X WILLIAM FELDMAN, Primary Examiner.

WALTER A. SCHEEL, Examiner. 

1. A MACHINE FOR REMOVING AND REPLACING LIDS ON CONTAINERS OR THE LIKE, COMPRISING A BASE UPON WHICH A CONTAINER MAY BE PLACED; AN UPRIGHT THEREON; A VERTICALLY MOVABLE OPERATING HEAD ADJUSTABLY MOUNTED ON SAID UPRIGHT AND INCLUDING A PLATE HAVING A SERIES OF RADIAL SLOTS THEREIN; MEANS FOR RAISING AND LOWERING SAID HEAD; MOVABLE FINGER FRAMES SUPPORTED BY THE PLATE AND HAVING REDUCED HEADS PASSING THROUGH THE SLOTS; MEANS FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY ADJUSTING THE FINGER FRAMES RADIALLY OF THE PLATE TO ENGAGE THE SIDES OF A CONTAINER CENTERED UPON THE BASE; AND LIFT FINGERS PIVOTED WITH RESPECT TO THE INNER SIDE FACES OF THE FINGER FRAMES AND HAVING THINNED INWARDLY CURVED OUTER TIPS ADAPTED WHEN THE OPERATING HEAD IS LOWERED ONTO A CONTAINER PLACED ON THE BASE TO INITIALLY ENTER BETWEEN THE SIDE OF THE CONTAINER LID AND THE TOP OF THE CONTAINER, AND UPON FURTHER LOWERING OF THE HEAD THE LIFT FINGERS WILL PIVOT INWARDLY, THEREBY PRYING THE LID OFF THE CONTAINER. 